Lightly Active or Active?

jenniba1

So I'm having a hard time figuring out which I should enter for the plan. I used to have myself set at Sedentary until my sister talked me out of it.. But which do I use? My normal routine is to wake up M-S between 6-7:30. 4-5 of those days I'm at the gym for 1:15 hours, then come home and shower, housework and just normal daily activities. 3 days a week I'm tending for friends, one of those days is chasing around twin 3 yr olds. I have 5 kids, so I'm leaving a lot for basketball, football, piano, scouts, and play dates, but I spend that time mostly driving. I do a LOT of laundry, at least 5 loads a day. But still, I feel like I'm only lightly active. We spend a day once a week at Lagoon, and Saturdays are mostly full of errands, or fun activities. I don't know! I hate losing weight. Too many what if's. Am I lightly active like I think? Or should I experiment with the Active calories eaten??

1shauna1

I think people here will tell you, eat your exercise calories but not the rest. If you took out your gym visits, then what would you think? To me, an "active" lifestyle is one where your job would say, have you on your feet all day or doing physical things. So, maybe keep it at lightly active (you're definitely not sedentary) and see what exercise calories you get.

jwdieter

Looks like lightly active at best, unless you don't log the gym.

BrianSharpe

Harris Benedict Formula

To determine your total daily calorie needs, multiply your BMR by the appropriate activity factor, as follows:

If you are sedentary (little or no exercise) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.2
If you are lightly active (light exercise/sports 1-3 days/week) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.375
If you are moderatetely active (moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/week) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.55
If you are very active (hard exercise/sports 6-7 days a week) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.725
If you are extra active (very hard exercise/sports & physical job or 2x training) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.9

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/harris-benedict-equation/

Without knowing what you're doing at the gym it's hard to say but, for purposes of calculating TDEE, it sounds like you're closer to "moderately active" but I don't think that's one of the choices for MFP.....

WendyTerry420

I would say to try active for a month and see if you progress.